The group we have been discipling is now reaching out into neighbouring communities—that’s exciting! Each member is sharing the good news, caring for the sick, as well as helping with literacy work... and they are so excited to see how the Father is using them.

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to my local friend’s remote hometown village where I became the first foreigner ever to visit. The people there gave me a warm reception, treating me to the local wheat, garlic, and wildlife—the latter being large, juicy bugs (which were also quite chewy).

We love sharing the different ways God is transforming the communities we are a part of. Here we feature an account of where the significance of Jesus has been a great inspiration to the people we serve.

It’s almost two years ago that these pages carried the story of the purchase of The Gateway; a building in South Asia that could be used to house freedom businesses and train those who had a desire to start or work in a freedom business. In this edition’s Global Mission Pages, we bring you up-to-date with what has been happening at The Gateway over the past two years.

In 2014, I approached retirement age after twenty years of full-time music ministry. I felt as if I had 'earned' my retirement from ministry, and honestly began to look forward to less travel, more family time, less activity, and more peace and quiet. Oh, my. You've heard the Yiddish Proverb, “Make God laugh, tell him your plans.” Jules Riding tells us about his recent trip to Eastern Europe.

Freedom from the sex trade, the reality of the Bible, faith in suffering, and the victory of Christ over darkness – these are just four examples of the good news of Jesus from our Tranzsend workers in Asia!

The New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society has, for some time, wanted a Te Reo name to sit alongside its English name. With input from a number of fluent Te Reo speakers we have chosen: Te Iwi Kaikawe Rongopai o Ngā Hahi Iriiri o Aotearoa.

When education is reasonably easy to access it can be taken for granted. For a person whose family has endured generations of poverty however, education can be the key to freedom and the creation of a new legacy for the generations to come. We share an example of this here.

We have often reported on New Zealand Baptist work amongst the people of the Kalasin region in Thailand where Tranzsend workers, Peter and Lynley (and more recently, Andrew and Roanna) are based, but what about the Thai people themselves?

Encouraging young people’s involvement in overseas mission can seem daunting. Youth interested in mission can often feel overwhelmed with all the options and needs overseas. They require people and organisations to help them work out the ‘what, where and how’ of serving overseas.

Baptist Magazine is the magazine produced for the Baptist Churches of New Zealand. Our aim is to encourage, inspire and empower you as a follower of Jesus Christ to build each other up in faith and in growing in spiritual maturity and love.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up
1 Thessalonians 5:11